27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Comments from

Uko Nkole emphasized the need for greater attention to Africa in discussions on global security. Drawing from his experience as a former member of Nigeria’s National Assembly and participant in U.S. leadership programs, he highlighted the growing challenges of terrorism financing, banditry, and transnational insecurity across the continent. He noted that instability intensified after the fall of Libya, which contributed to the spread of armed groups and weapons throughout the region.

He pointed to ongoing violence, including farmer-herder clashes and extremist activities, as major threats to stability, particularly in Nigeria. Stressing Nigeria’s size and strategic importance in Africa, he warned that instability there would have serious consequences for the broader continent. Nkole concluded by urging policymakers and stakeholders to make Africa a central focus in security discussions and to address these urgent and interconnected challenges.